Caramel Popcorn Balls

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil , divided
• 2.5 cups unpopped popcorn
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 0.5 cups light corn syrup
• 0.25 cups butter
• 0.67 cups sweetened condensed milk
• 0.5 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

1. 1

   Pour 1 tablespoon of oil into a 4-quart saucepan; heat over high heat. Add 1/2 cup of popping corn; keep pan moving constantly until corn stops popping, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and transfer popped corn into a dish; set aside and keep warm. Repeat until all corn has been popped.

2. 2

   Stir sugar, condensed milk, corn syrup, and butter together in a medium saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil and simmer until it reaches 240 degrees F (115 degrees C) on a candy thermometer. Stir in vanilla.

3. 3

   Pour caramel over popped corn and stir to coat.

4. 4

   Lightly grease your hands and shape popcorn mixture into 15 balls; let cool completely.